Emissions reduction vacuum control valve

ABSTRACT

Spark advance vacuum control valve arranged to reduce the emission of noxious gases from the internal combustion engines of automotive vehicles. A solenoid energized by an electric switch in association with the transmission operates a valve effective to vent the distributor to atmosphere as the engine is started and the transmission is shifted into high gear. When the transmission is in high gear, the solenoid is deenergized to connect the distributor to effect advance of the spark by carburetor vacuum. A manifold port, distributor port and vent port lead into the valve housing through a wall of the housing while the carburetor port is at an end of the valve housing. A valve chamber within the housing has communication with the manifold vacuum port, the distributor port, the vent port and the carburetor vaccum port under the control of a thermally responsive valve. The thermally responsive valve is operated by overheating of the engine to advance the spark by manifold vacuum and increase the speed of the engine.

United States Patent Franz et al.

Feb. 5, 1974 EMISSIONS REDUCTION VACUUM CONTROL VALVE PrimaryExaminer-Laurence M. Goodridge Assistant ExaminerRonald B. Cox [75]Inventors ggz g zg g Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Teagno & Toddy Heights,111.; Nello L. Benedetti, deceased, late of Prospect, 111. by [57]ABSTRACT Lena Benedetti, executrix Spark advance vacuum control valvearranged to re- [73] Assignee: Eaten Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio duceemlsslqn of noxlous gafws the Internal by said Franz and Freismuthcombustion engmes of automotive veh cles. A soleno1d energized by anelectric switch 1n association [22] Filed: Nov. 3, 1971 with thetransmission operates a valve effective to vent the distributor toatmosphere as the engine is started [2]] Appl' 195239 and thetransmission is shifted into high gear. When the transmission is in highgear, the solenoid is deener- [52] US. Cl. 123/117 A, 137/80 gized toconnect the distributor to effect advance of [51] Int. Cl. F 02p 5/04, F16k 17/38 the spark by carburetor vacuum. A manifold port, dis- [58]Field of Search 123/1 17 A, 117 R; 137/80, 79 tributor port and ventport lead into the valve housing through a wall of the housing while thecarburetor [56] References Cited port is at an end of the valve housing.A valve cham- UNITED STATES PATENTS ber within the housing hascommunication with the 3 643 526 2/1972 Thomburgh 123/117 R manifoldvacuum port, the distributor port, the vent 3:272:191 9/1966 walker I123" port and the carburetor vaccum port under the con- 3,540,422 111970 Kelly 123/117 H01 Of a thermally responsive valve- The thermally3,581,852 6/1971 Griffen 192/4 sponsive valve is operated by overheatingof the en- 3,400,698 9/1968 Kelly 123/117 gine to advance the spark bymanifold vacuum and in- 3,680,533 8/1972 SObCl'Skl 123/117 crease thepeed of the engine 3,659,501 5/1972 Beard 92/49 3,704,697 12/1972 Weyman123/117 A Clalms, 3 Drawing Flgures 1 a/ H M 72 *iv 1 1 59 I5 I I? 52 027 A M .63 4 5 w A 47 2 O .5 7/ k 25 DIM y 4 77 B U 1 11 i gg 4 25 2/ Q/7 75 t J 0 i l 7 74 5/ 10 3/ J2 J5 EMISSIONS REDUCTION VACUUM CONTROLVALVE FIELD OF THE INVENTION Undesirable emissions reduction internalcombustion engine spark advance control valve.

BACKGROUND, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION In the operation ofautomotive vehicles, it has been found that more undesirable emissionsare given off from the internal combustion engine of the vehicle if thespark is advanced when shifting the transmission through the low speedgear ranges into high gear than when it is not advanced until thetransmission is in high gear.

In order to prevent the advance of the spark before the transmission isshifted into high gear, a solenoid operated vacuum control valve,controlled by the transmission gearing, controls the automatic sparkadvance and prevents the advance of the spark before the transmission isin its high speed gear position. The solenoid when energized preventscarburetor vacuum from advancing the spark and vents the distributor toatmosphere. As the transmission shifts into its high speed drive range,the solenoid coil is deenergized and the valve is effective to providecommunication between the distributor and carburetor vacuum. The sparkadvance then functions normally on carburetor vacuum.

An advantage of the present invention is the reduction of the noxiousgases discharged to the atmosphere from an internal combustion engine ofan automotive vehicle when starting the engine and shifting from lowinto high gear.

A further advantage and object of the invention is to retard the sparkof an internal combustion engine when starting and shifting through thelow gear range of the transmission of an automotive vehicle, and toadvance the spark as the transmission is shifted into its high gearrange, to reduce the emission of noxious gases when the vehicle iscoming up to its high gear running speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved form ofvacuum control valve, controlling the advance of the spark of aninternal combustion engine, dependent upon a predetermined gearreduction range of the transmission of the engine, to reduce theemission of noxious gases during shifting of the transmission into itshigh speed gear range.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a solenoidcontrolled valve, reducing air pollution by reducing the amount ofnoxious gases discharged to the atmosphere from an internal combustionengine during operation of the engine in the low speed gear range of thetransmission of the automotive vehicle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a noxious gasreduction vacuum control valve controlling the advance of the spark ofan internal combustion'engine, arranged with a view toward utmostsimplicity and efficiency in construction and operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, althoughvariations and modifications may be effected without departing from thespirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclo'sure' DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a vacuum controlvalve constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the valve looking at the valve toward thethermally responsive element in the bottom of the valve housing; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line III-III ofFIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, we haveshown a vacuum control valve 10 including a valve housing 11 having aradial flange 12 at its lower end having a seal 13 recessed therein andextending thereabout and having sealing engagement with the plane upperface of a threaded coupling member 15, adapted to be threaded in thecylinder head of an internal combustion engine, to position a thermallyresponsive element 16 on the end of said coupling in the water jacket ofthe engine. The coupling 15 is crimped or otherwise secured to theflange 12, to retain the seal 13 in sealing engagement with the coupling15 and thereby provide an air tight connection between said flange andcoupling.

The thermally responsive element 16 is shown as being a solid fill orpower type of thermally responsive element including the casing 17containing a fusible thermally expansible material, such as a wax or amixture of wax and a powdered metal heat conducting material, with orwithout a binder, to attain a material which will expand in its fusionrange, at a temperature range selected for operation of the valve, in amanner well-known to those skilled in the art so not herein shown ordescribed further.

As shown in FIG. 3, the casing 17 has a radial flange 19 extendingoutwardly from the upper wall thereof and abutting a resilient diaphragm20. The flange and diaphragm are sealed to the coupling member 15 bycrimping an axially extending annular portion of the coupling memberover the flange 19. A piston 21 is slidably guided in a bore 23 of thecoupling member 15 and is spaced from an extensible power member 24movable along the bore 23, as by a spacer 25.

The extensible power member 24 as moved by the thermally expansiblematerial in the casing 17 in an extensible direction upon increases intemperature, unseats a ball-type valve 27 in a valve chamber 28 from avalve seat 29 and seats said valve on a vertically spaced valve seat 30to block communication between a vent port 31 and a distributor port 32and between a carburetor port 33 and the distributor port 32.

Unseating of the valve 27 from the seat 29 and seating said valve on theseat 30 affords communication between a manifold vacuum output port 35and the distributor input port, to effect advance of the spark andincrease the running speed of the engine and the amount of air flowingover the engine through the fan and also increasing coolant circulationto effect cooling of the engine to its normal operating temperature, incases where the engine has become overheated sufficiently to effectextensible movement of the power member 24 to operate the valve 27.

A spring 36 seated in a passageway 37 leading from the valve chamber 28and seat 30, biases the ball 27 in engagement with the seat 29, atnormal engine temperby a spring 39. The spring 39 is seated on theundersurface of the seat 29 "at one end and on a radially extendingshoulder 40 extending radially outwardly of the lower end of a bell-likecage 41 at its opposite end. The cage 41 forms a cage for an overtravelspring 43, abutting the bottom of a plunger 44 engageable with the valve27 upon extensible movement of the power member 24.

The downwardly opening bell-like cage 41' slidably extends along theplunger 44 and is retained to said plunger by the overtravel spring 43and a shouldered portion 45 of said plunger, engaged with an inturnedupper end portion of the bell-like cage by the overtravel spring 43. Thelower end of the overtravel spring 43 is seated on a disk 47 abuttingthe extensible power member 24 and engaging a shouldered portion of saidbell-like cage adjacent the lower end of said cage. The spring 43,therefore, accommodates overtravel of the extensible power member 24 asthe plunger 44 engages the valve 27 and seats said valve on the valveseat 30, to prevent damage to the thermally responsive element upontemperature conditions sufficiently high to cause overtravel of saidtemperature responsive element.

The valve 27 is thus movable along the valve chamber 28 to connect thedistributor port 32 with the manifold vacuum port 35 to connect thedistributor to manifold vacuum to effect advance of the spark bymanifold vacuum at high temperature conditions of the engine and isnormally biased by the spring 36 to block the connection between saiddistributor input port and manifold vacuum output port, to accommodatethe connection of the distributor to the vent port 31 when it is desiredthat the spark be retarded, or to the carburetor vacuum output port 33to effect advance of the spark by carburetor vacuum under the control ofa solenoid controlled valve 50 in a valve chamber 75 formed between acasing 69 for a solenoid coil 64, and the opposite end of the valvehousing from the thermally responsive element 16.

The valve 50 is biased by a spring 51 to engage a seat 77 on the end ofa passageway 73, extending axially along the housing 1 1 from the ventport 31 to open end of said housing, and block the venting of thedistributor port 32 through the vent port 31 and to connect thedistributor port 32 with the carburetor vacuum port 33 through apassageway 52 extending parallel to the passageway 73 and opening to thesame end of the valve housing as the passageway 73. The passageway 52has communication with the valve chamber 28 through a passageway 53leading from the inner end of the passageway 52 to the passageway 37opening into the valve chamber 28 through the seat 30.

The end of the valve housing adjacent the carburetor vacuum port 33 hasa widened radial flange 59 extending outwardly therefrom having asealing ring 60 recessed in its outer face and extending thereabout. Theseal 60 is engaged by a foot or flange 61 extending radially outwardlyof an annular leg 62, depending from a spool or bobbin 63 for thesolenoid coil 64. The carburetor vacuum port 33 is defined by a fitting65 and extends along said fitting. The fitting 65 has a widened base 66,shouldered to form a seat for a sealing ring 67 having sealingengagement with the interior wall of the spool 63.

The casing 69 for the solenoid coil 64 has an inwardly dished interiorportion 70, extending along the inner wall of the spool 63 and having aninturned annular lower end portion 71, extending inwardly along ashoulder formed by the upper or outer surface of the widened portion 66of the fitting 65. The fitting 65 is shown in FIG. 3 as being staked tothe inturned end portion 71 of the dished portion of the casing,securing said fitting to said casing and retaining said fitting in axialalignment with the passageway 73 leading axially along the valve housingfrom the vent port or passageway 31.

The casing 69 has an exterior cylindrical wall portion 74 encasing thespool 63 and solenoid coil 64. The wall 74 extends downwardly along theannular leg portion 62 of the spool 63, and is turned outwardly intoabutting engagement with the upper surface of the flange 61 andoutwardly therefrom. The outwardly extending portion of the cylindricalwall 74 is curled about the flange 59 and extends along the undersidethereof as indicated by reference numeral 72, to retain the casing 69 tothe valve housing and to provide an air tight seal between the flange 59and undersurface of the flange 61 in cooperation with the seal 60. Thebobbin or spool 63 and solenoid coil 64 wound about said spool are thussealed to the carburetor fitting 65 and to the flange 59 by the seal 60,to prevent dirt and moisture from getting into the region of thesolenoid coil, and to define the closed valve chamber 75 at the end ofthe valve housing 1 1. The widened portion of the carburetor outputfitting 65 has a frusto-conical seat 76 opening to the bottom thereof inaxial alignment with the passageway 73 and forming a seat for the ballvalve 50, to close the carburetor output port upon energization of thesolenoid coil 64. The passageway 73 leading from the vent port 31 alsohas a frustoconical seat 77 opening into the valve chamber 75. The valve50 is normally biased into engagement with the seat 77 by the conicalspring 51 seated at its large diameter end on the underside of the lowerflange of the bobbin or spool 63 and seated at its opposite end on ametallic disk 80 forming the armature of the solenoid.

The valve 50 is shown as being a resilient ball-type valve made fromrubber or one of the well-known substitutes for rubber, having arecessed portion 81 extending about the center thereof, and forming amounting for the disk-like armature 80. The disk-like armature 80 haspassageways 83 leading therethrough, to facilitate communication betweenthe carburetor intake port 33 and the passageway 52 having communicationwith the valve chamber 28, under control of the valve 27.

The solenoid coil 64 has the conventional terminals 85, which may beconnected with a switch (not shown) controlling energization of saidsolenoid coil. The switch, for example, may be a pressure switch in thetransmission for the vehicle and effecting energization of the solenoidcoil 64, to move the valve 50 to seat along the seat 76 and block theconnection of vacuum through the distributor port 32 drawn by thecarburetor port 33 by carburetor vacuum, and to connect the distributorport to the vent 31, to effect retarding of the spark until closing ofthe vent port and opening of the carburetor port, by deenergization ofthe solenoid coil 64, as the transmission shifts into high gear.

As the internal combustion engine is started and the automotive vehicleis put in gear to start operation of the vehicle, the solenoid coil 64is energized. The armature carrying the resilient valve 50 will then beattracted toward the solenoid coil and seat on the seat 76, and hold airfrom being drawn from the valve chamber 75 and distributor by carburetorvacuum. This will effect opening of the seat 77 connecting thedistributor to the atmosphere, to sense atmospheric pressure and preventvacuum spark advance.

As the transmission is shifted into its high drive gear range, thesolenoid coil 64 will be deenergized and the spring 51 exerting pressureon the armature 80 will engage the valve 50 with the seat 77. Thedistributor port 32 will thn be connected with the carburetor vacuumport 33 and the spark advance will function normally on carburetorvaccum.

Upon overheating of the engine, expansion of the fusible thermallyexpansible material in the casing 17 for the thermally expansibleelement 16, will effect extension of the power member 24 and plunger 44to push the valve 27 into engagement with the seat 30. This will sealoff the vent passageway 32 and carburetor vacuum port 33. Thedistributor will then be connected directly to the manifold port 35, andthe higher manifold vacuum acting upon the spark system will increasethe engine speed, with a resultant increase in coolant circulation andincrease in fan speed and the amount of air flowing over the engine, tocool the engine to its normal operating temperature. The fusiblethermally expansible material will then contract and the valve 27 willreturn to its normal position with spark advance controlled bycarburetor vacuum.

We claim as our inventions:

1. In a vacuum control valve adapted to control the advance of the sparkof an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold,

a carburetor and a distributor,

a valve housing havinga widened flanged end,

a distributor port leading into said housing and adapted to be connectedwith the distributor of the engine,

a vent port spaced along said housing from said distributor vacuum portand leading into said housing from the side thereof,

a passageway leading from said vent port and extending axially of saidhousing and opening to said end thereof,

a carburetor vacuum port including a fitting leading from said end ofsaid housing and directly aligned with and spaced from said passageway,

a casing closing the end of said valve housing and forming a mountingfor said carburetor fitting,

a valve chamber formed between said end of said valve housing and saidcasing and having communication with said vent port, said carburetorvacuum port and said distributor port,

a valve disposed in said valve chamber between the end of saidpassageway and adjacent the end of said carburetor port fitting, saidvalve normally biased to close said passageway to afford communicationbetween said distributor port and said carburetor vacuum port,

a spool carried within said casing concentric with said carburetor portfitting and sealing said fitting at its inner periphery,-said innerperiphery defined by an interior cylindrical wall having a sealextending thereabout in sealing engagement with said fitting, said spoolhaving atop radial flange extending radially of said valve housingflanged end, a bottom radial flange beneath said top flange, an annularaxially extending leg defining said interior wall and extending beneathsaid bottom radial flange, a third radial flange extending outwardlyfrom the bottom of said axially extending leg,

said casing extending along said annular leg and having abuttingengagement with said top radial flange and being crimped thereabout toretain said spool to said casing and to said end of said valve housing,

an annular seal recessed in and extending about said flanged end of saidvalve housing and abutted by said top radially extending flange of saidspool to effect the sealing of said flanged end of said valve body bysaid spool, and

electrically energizable means including a solenoid coil wound aboutsaid spool for moving said valve into position to block the passage ofvacuum from said distributor port through said carburetor vacuum portand to afford communication between said vent port andsaid distributorvacuum port.

2. In a vacuum control valve adapted to control the advance of the sparkof an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold,

a carburetor and a distributor,

a valve housing,

a distributor port leading into said housing and adapted to be connectedwith the distributor of the engine,

a vent port spaced along said housing from said distributor vacuum portand leading into said housing from the side thereof,

a passageway leading from said vent port and extending axially of saidhousing and opening to an end thereof,

a carburetor vacuum port including a fitting leading from an end of saidhousing and directly aligned with and spaced from said passageway,

a casing closing the end of said valve housing and forming a mountingfor said carburetor fitting,

a valve chamber formed between the end of said valve housing and saidcasing and having communication with said vent port, said carburetorvacuum port and said distributor port,

a valve disposed in said valve chamber between the end of saidpassageway and adjacent the inner end of said carburetor port fitting,said valve normally biased to close said passageway to affordcommunication between said distributor port and said carburetor vacuumport,

said valve being a resilient ball-like valve,

an annular metallic disk extending about said ball and recessed therein,

electrically energizable means including a solenoid coil containedwithin said casing concentric with said fitting for moving said disk andball toward said carburetor fitting to close said carburetor port, andblock the passage of vacuum from said distributor port through saidcarburetor vacuum port and to afford communication between said ventport and said distributor vacuum port, and

a spring interposed between said solenoid coil and said disk to biassaid resilient valve into engagement with the end of said passagewayleading from said vent port.

3. The vacuum control valve of claim 2,

wherein the fitting defining the carburetor port has a centralpassageway leading therealong,

wherein a flared frusto-conical wall diverges from the lower end of saidcentral passageway and forms a seat for said valve, and

wherein a frusto-conical wall diverges from the upper end of saidpassageway leading to said vent port coaxially of said carburetor vacuumport and forms a seat for said ball to accommodate the tight sealing ofsaid vent passageway by the bias of said spring.

4. The vacuum control valve of claim 3,

including an annular flange extending radially of the end of saidhousing adjacent said carburetor port,

a seal recessed in said flange and extending thereabout,

a spool having a radially extending flange abutting said seal,

wherein the solenoid coil is wound about said spool,

wherein the casing is curled about said radially extending flange ofsaid spool and said radial flange of said housing and presses saidradially extending flange into sealing engagement with said seal, and

wherein said spool has an interior cylindrical wall and a resilientgasket is provided between said interior cylindrical wall and saidcarburetor fitting to cooperate with said first mentioned seal andprovide a sealed valve chamber.

5. A vacuum controlled valve comprising,

a valve housing,

at least two ports spaced along said housing,

a first being a vent port,

a second port adapted to draw vacuum into the housa fitting spaced froman end of said valve housing and defining a third port adapted to beconnected to a source of vacuum,

a first passageway leading from said vent port to the open end of saidhousing and opening to the same end of said housing as said fitting andextending coaxially of said fitting,

a second passageway leading from the end of said housing and havingcommunication with said second port,

a solenoid coil encircling said fitting,

a spool having said solenoid coil wound therearound, said spool havingtop and bottom radial flanges, an annular axially extending legextending beneath the bottom radial flange and having a third radialflange extending outwardly from the bottom thereof, said top flangeabutting the end of said valve body defined as a widened radial flange,

a casing carrying said spool and said solenoid coil and closing saidflanged end of said valve housing and the end of said solenoid coil withthe space between said flanged end of said housing and said solenoidcoil defining a valve chamber, said casing also forming a mounting forsaid fitting,

a resilient valve member in said valve chamber in alignment with andbetween said third port and said first passageway leading from said ventport,

an armature carrying said resilient valve member, spring means biasingsaid valve member to close said vent port, whereby energization of saidsolenoid coil will open said vent port and close said third port, andprovide communication between said vent port and said second port,

an annular seal recessed in said flanged end of said valve housing andabutted by said top flange of said .spool, and I said casing beingcrimped about said top radial flange of said spool and said widenedradial flange of said housing to retain said casing to said valvehousing and seal the open end of said valve housing to providecommunication between said third port and said second port under thecontrol of said valve.

6. The vacuum control valve of claim 5,

wherein the resilient valve is a ball-like valve,

wherein frusto-conical seats for said valve are provided on the adjacentends of said fitting and said passageway leading from the end of saidvent port, and

wherein said fitting is sealed to said spool and casing.

7. A solenoid-energized, thermally responsive valve for controllingvacuum to the spark advance mechanism of a distributor used in aninternal combustion engine to control hydrocarbon emissions therefrom,said valve comprising:

a. a valve housing having first and second flanged ends, alongitudinally extending first valve chamber opening at one end to saidfirst flanged end and a first valve seat at the opposite end of saidchamber, a distributor and a manifold vacuum port communicating withsaid first chamber, a passageway in said housing opening from saidsecond flanged end and communicating with said first valve seat, asecond valve seat in said second flanged end and a vented portcommunicating with said second valve seat;

b. a first casing section containing a thermally responsive unitsealingly crimped over said first flanged end, a piston extending fromsaid unit into said first chamber;

0. a plunger and third valve seat in said first chamber actuated by saidpiston, a first resilient valve member between said first and thirdvalve seats and spring means normally biasing said first valve memberinto sealingly engagement with said third valve seat to sealcommunication between said manifold port and said distributor port;

d. a second annular casing section sealingly crimped over said secondflange to define a second valve chamber therebetween, said casingcontaining an annular spool, a solenoid coil wound around said spool anda fitting defining a carburetor vacuum port extending therethrough andsealed therein, said fitting having an end formed into a fourth valveseat disposed opposite that of said second valve seat in said secondvalve chamber; and

e. a second resilient valve member in said second valve chamber, andspring means in said second chamber normally biasing said secondresilient valve member into sealingly engagement with said second seat.

8. The solenoid-energized, thermally responsive valve of claim 7,wherein said armature of said solenoid comprises an annular metallicdisk in said second valve chamber, said second and fourth valve seatsare frustoconical in shape and said second resilient valve member isball-shaped to sealing seat in said frusto-conical seats and groovedthereabout to receive said armature.

9. A solenoid actuated valve comprising,

a housing defining an open-ended valve chamber therein,

a first frusto-conical valve seat sealingly disposed at one open end ofsaid chamber,

a second frusto-conical valve seat sealingly disposed at the other endof said chamber,

said chamber further having an outlet opening remote from said valveseats and disposed in said open end containing said first valve seat,and an outlet port in said housing communicating with said outletopening,

a first inlet in said housing at a first pressure communicating withsaid first valve seat,

a fixed fitting in said housing defining a second inlet at a secondpressure communicating with said second valve seat,

a solenoid coil and spool encircling said fitting,

a resilient ball-like valve member disposed in said valve chamberbetween said first and second valve seats and having a circumferentiallyextending recess formed thereabout,

an annular metallic disk defining the armature of said coil, said diskreceived within said recess so as to be secured to said resilient valvemember and disposed entirely in said valve chamber,

spring means in said valve chamber normally biasing said armature andsaid valve member into sealing contact with said first valve seat topermit communication of said second inlet with said outlet port, and

said housing further including a first casing section having a flangedend and a second annular casing section receiving said fitting and saidspool,

said spool having top and bottom radial flanges, an

annular axially extending leg extending beneath said bottom radialflange about which said coil is wound and having a third radial flangeextending outwardly from the bottom thereof, said second casingextending along said annular leg and having abutting engagement withsaid top radial flange and being crimped about said top radial flangeand said housing flanged end, and

said valve chamber defined bysaid flanged end of said valve housing andsaid top and bottom flanges of said spool.

10. The solenoid actuated valve of claim 9 wherein an annular seal isreceived within a recess in said flanged end of said first casingsection and abutted by said top radial flange of said spool to effectsealing of said valve chamber when said second casing is crimped aboutsaid flanged end of said first housing.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,7 9,11 Dated February 5, 97 1- Inventor(s) Rudolph J. Franz et a1.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet, in the heading, itemmj] Assignee:

"Eaten Corporation" should read Eaton Corporation Signed and sealed thislhth day of May 197R SEAL) Atte s t EDWARD I I .FLE'I'CHER JR C MARSHALLDANN Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 1 USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 wu. s. covumnzn-r rnnmne ornc! I"! o-au-nl.

FORM PO-IOSO (IO-69)

1. In a vacuum control valve adapted to control the advance of the sparkof an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold, a carburetorand a distributor, a valve housing having a widened flanged end, adistributor port leading into said housing and adapted to be connectedwith the distributor of the engine, a vent port spaced along saidhousing from said distributor vacuum port and leading into said housingfrom the side thereof, a passageway leading from said vent port andextending axially of said housing and opening to said end thereof, acarburetor vacuum port including a fitting leading from said end of saidhousing and directly aligned with and spaced from said passageway, acasing closing the end of said valve housing and forming a mounting forsaid carburetor fitting, a valve chamber formed between said end of saidvalve housing and said casing and having communication with said ventport, said carburetor vacuum port and said distributor port, a valvedisposed in said valve chamber between the end of said passageway andadjacent the end of said carburetor port fitting, said valve normallybiased to close said passageway to afford communication between saiddistributor port and said carburetor vacuum port, a spool carried withinsaid casing concentric with said carburetor port fitting and sealingsaid fitting at its inner periphery, said inner periphery defined by aninterior cylindrical wall having a seal extending thereabout in sealingengagement with said fitting, said spool having a top radial flangeextending radially of said valve housing flanged end, a bottom radialflange beneath said top flange, an annular axially extending legdefining said interior wall and extending beneath said bottom radialflange, a third radial flange extending outwardly from the bottom ofsaid axially extending leg, said casing extending along said annular legand having abutting engagement with said top radial flange and beingcrimped thereabout to retain said spool to said casing and to said endof said valve housing, an annular seal recessed in and extending aboutsaid flanged end of said valve housing and abutted by said top radiallyextending flange of said spool to effect the sealing of said flanged endof said valve body by said spool, and electrically energizable meansincluding a solenoid coil wound about said spool for moving said valveinto position to block the passage of vacuum from said distributor portthrough said carburetor vacuum port and to afford communication betweensaid vent port and said distributor vacuum port.
 2. In a vacuum controlvalve adapted to control the advance of the spark of an internalcombustion engine having an intake manifold, a carburetor and adistributor, a valve housing, a distributor port leading into saidhousing and adapted to be connected with the distributor of the engine,a vent port spaced along said housing from said distributor vacuum portand leading into said housing from the side thereof, a passagewayleading from said vent port and extending axially of said housing andopening to an end thereof, a carburetor vacuum port including a fittingleading from an end of said houSing and directly aligned with and spacedfrom said passageway, a casing closing the end of said valve housing andforming a mounting for said carburetor fitting, a valve chamber formedbetween the end of said valve housing and said casing and havingcommunication with said vent port, said carburetor vacuum port and saiddistributor port, a valve disposed in said valve chamber between the endof said passageway and adjacent the inner end of said carburetor portfitting, said valve normally biased to close said passageway to affordcommunication between said distributor port and said carburetor vacuumport, said valve being a resilient ball-like valve, an annular metallicdisk extending about said ball and recessed therein, electricallyenergizable means including a solenoid coil contained within said casingconcentric with said fitting for moving said disk and ball toward saidcarburetor fitting to close said carburetor port, and block the passageof vacuum from said distributor port through said carburetor vacuum portand to afford communication between said vent port and said distributorvacuum port, and a spring interposed between said solenoid coil and saiddisk to bias said resilient valve into engagement with the end of saidpassageway leading from said vent port.
 3. The vacuum control valve ofclaim 2, wherein the fitting defining the carburetor port has a centralpassageway leading therealong, wherein a flared frusto-conical walldiverges from the lower end of said central passageway and forms a seatfor said valve, and wherein a frusto-conical wall diverges from theupper end of said passageway leading to said vent port coaxially of saidcarburetor vacuum port and forms a seat for said ball to accommodate thetight sealing of said vent passageway by the bias of said spring.
 4. Thevacuum control valve of claim 3, including an annular flange extendingradially of the end of said housing adjacent said carburetor port, aseal recessed in said flange and extending thereabout, a spool having aradially extending flange abutting said seal, wherein the solenoid coilis wound about said spool, wherein the casing is curled about saidradially extending flange of said spool and said radial flange of saidhousing and presses said radially extending flange into sealingengagement with said seal, and wherein said spool has an interiorcylindrical wall and a resilient gasket is provided between saidinterior cylindrical wall and said carburetor fitting to cooperate withsaid first mentioned seal and provide a sealed valve chamber.
 5. Avacuum controlled valve comprising, a valve housing, at least two portsspaced along said housing, a first being a vent port, a second portadapted to draw vacuum into the housing, a fitting spaced from an end ofsaid valve housing and defining a third port adapted to be connected toa source of vacuum, a first passageway leading from said vent port tothe open end of said housing and opening to the same end of said housingas said fitting and extending coaxially of said fitting, a secondpassageway leading from the end of said housing and having communicationwith said second port, a solenoid coil encircling said fitting, a spoolhaving said solenoid coil wound therearound, said spool having top andbottom radial flanges, an annular axially extending leg extendingbeneath the bottom radial flange and having a third radial flangeextending outwardly from the bottom thereof, said top flange abuttingthe end of said valve body defined as a widened radial flange, a casingcarrying said spool and said solenoid coil and closing said flanged endof said valve housing and the end of said solenoid coil with the spacebetween said flanged end of said housing and said solenoid coil defininga valve chamber, said casing also forming a mounting for said fitting, aresilient valve member in said valve chamber in alignment with andbetween said third port and said first passageway leading from said ventport, an armature carrying said resilient valve member, spring meansbiasing said valve member to close said vent port, whereby energizationof said solenoid coil will open said vent port and close said thirdport, and provide communication between said vent port and said secondport, an annular seal recessed in said flanged end of said valve housingand abutted by said top flange of said spool, and said casing beingcrimped about said top radial flange of said spool and said widenedradial flange of said housing to retain said casing to said valvehousing and seal the open end of said valve housing to providecommunication between said third port and said second port under thecontrol of said valve.
 6. The vacuum control valve of claim 5, whereinthe resilient valve is a ball-like valve, wherein frusto-conical seatsfor said valve are provided on the adjacent ends of said fitting andsaid passageway leading from the end of said vent port, and wherein saidfitting is sealed to said spool and casing.
 7. A solenoid-energized,thermally responsive valve for controlling vacuum to the spark advancemechanism of a distributor used in an internal combustion engine tocontrol hydrocarbon emissions therefrom, said valve comprising: a. avalve housing having first and second flanged ends, a longitudinallyextending first valve chamber opening at one end to said first flangedend and a first valve seat at the opposite end of said chamber, adistributor and a manifold vacuum port communicating with said firstchamber, a passageway in said housing opening from said second flangedend and communicating with said first valve seat, a second valve seat insaid second flanged end and a vented port communicating with said secondvalve seat; b. a first casing section containing a thermally responsiveunit sealingly crimped over said first flanged end, a piston extendingfrom said unit into said first chamber; c. a plunger and third valveseat in said first chamber actuated by said piston, a first resilientvalve member between said first and third valve seats and spring meansnormally biasing said first valve member into sealingly engagement withsaid third valve seat to seal communication between said manifold portand said distributor port; d. a second annular casing section sealinglycrimped over said second flange to define a second valve chambertherebetween, said casing containing an annular spool, a solenoid coilwound around said spool and a fitting defining a carburetor vacuum portextending therethrough and sealed therein, said fitting having an endformed into a fourth valve seat disposed opposite that of said secondvalve seat in said second valve chamber; and e. a second resilient valvemember in said second valve chamber, and spring means in said secondchamber normally biasing said second resilient valve member intosealingly engagement with said second seat.
 8. The solenoid-energized,thermally responsive valve of claim 7, wherein said armature of saidsolenoid comprises an annular metallic disk in said second valvechamber, said second and fourth valve seats are frusto-conical in shapeand said second resilient valve member is ball-shaped to sealing seat insaid frusto-conical seats and grooved thereabout to receive saidarmature.
 9. A solenoid actuated valve comprising, a housing defining anopen-ended valve chamber therein, a first frusto-conical valve seatsealingly disposed at one open end of said chamber, a secondfrusto-conical valve seat sealingly disposed at the other end of saidchamber, said chamber further having an outlet opening remote from saidvalve seats and disposed in said open end containing said first valveseat, and an outlet port in said housing communicating with said outletopening, a first inlet in said housing at a first pressure communicatingwith said first valve seat, a fixed fitting in said housing defining asecond inlet at a second pressure communicating with said second valveseat, a solenoid coil and spool encircling said fitting, a resilientball-like valve member disposed in said valve chamber between said firstand second valve seats and having a circumferentially extending recessformed thereabout, an annular metallic disk defining the armature ofsaid coil, said disk received within said recess so as to be secured tosaid resilient valve member and disposed entirely in said valve chamber,spring means in said valve chamber normally biasing said armature andsaid valve member into sealing contact with said first valve seat topermit communication of said second inlet with said outlet port, andsaid housing further including a first casing section having a flangedend and a second annular casing section receiving said fitting and saidspool, said spool having top and bottom radial flanges, an annularaxially extending leg extending beneath said bottom radial flange aboutwhich said coil is wound and having a third radial flange extendingoutwardly from the bottom thereof, said second casing extending alongsaid annular leg and having abutting engagement with said top radialflange and being crimped about said top radial flange and said housingflanged end, and said valve chamber defined by said flanged end of saidvalve housing and said top and bottom flanges of said spool.
 10. Thesolenoid actuated valve of claim 9 wherein an annular seal is receivedwithin a recess in said flanged end of said first casing section andabutted by said top radial flange of said spool to effect sealing ofsaid valve chamber when said second casing is crimped about said flangedend of said first housing.